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For the past year, tennis has been dominated by the on-court battle between 24-year-old Jannik Sinner of Italy and 22-year-old Carlos Alcaraz of Spain. Image by SARAH STIER / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are at the forefront of a financial transformation in professional tennis, leading a group of 10 players who collectively earned an estimated $285 million over the past year, a 16% increase from the previous year. The shift marks a new era for the sport’s highest earners, with the top three spots occupied by players under the age of 30 for the first time since 2010.

According to a recent Forbes list, Carlos Alcaraz is the world’s highest-paid tennis player for the second consecutive year. The 22-year-old Spaniard’s estimated total earnings of $48.3 million outpace the competition, with a significant $35 million coming from off-court ventures, including endorsements with BMW, Louis Vuitton, and Rolex. His on-court earnings contribute an additional $13.3 million.

Italy’s Jannik Sinner, 24, follows closely at No. 2 with $47.3 million in earnings. Notably, Sinner led all players in on-court prize money, securing $20.3 million, a figure complemented by $27 million from sponsorship deals with brands like Gucci and Lavazza.

American Coco Gauff, at 21, is the highest-earning woman in the sport and ranks No. 3 overall with an estimated $37.2 million. Gauff’s earnings are heavily influenced by off-court deals, which account for $25 million, placing her just ahead of Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic, 38, is the only player over the age of 29 in the top 10 and comes in at No. 4 with $29.6 million. His earnings underscore his enduring commercial appeal, with $25 million derived from sponsorships and only $4.6 million from prize money.

Other notable players in the top 10 include Aryna Sabalenka ($27.4 million), Qinwen Zheng ($26.1 million), and Iga Świątek ($24 million), with four women making the list this year.


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